"AHRESP calls on the Government, in view of a new confinement and closure of catering establishments and similar to the public, to be allowed, as it has been carried out, to operate on a 'delivery' and 'take-away' regime," the association appeals.

Regarding the take-away, AHRESP argues that "drive-thru operating permission should be included, a modality in which customers remain in their vehicles thus reducing any risk of contagion".

Several experts, political leaders and representatives of civil society organisations are gathered this today at the presentation session of the epidemiological situation, which takes place at the head of Infarmed – National Authority on Medicine and Health Products in Lisbon.

This meeting precedes the decision, to put the country in new general confinement to sustain the progress of the pandemic after the death toll and new cases of covid-19 have increased significantly in the last week. Thus, AHRESP also advocates the need for a new framework to support the sector for a new containment. "In the face of a new confinement, it is increasingly urgent to make available the measures already announced by the Government on December 10, as well as the need for a new framework to support companies and their workers," he said.

Given the imminence of a new confinement – and assuming that take-away, home deliveries and drive-thru will be allowed – AHRESP also recalls that the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) has published specific rules for couriers, which should be followed and recommended to these professionals by the establishments themselves.